Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Attitude of a Warrior
I am so thankful for my friend Amanda. She gives me so much encouragement. She is such a beautiful light. I vented to her about all my health and emotional issues. She let me know that the devil does his work at night and gets in your head. She told me to face this with the attitude of a detective and a warrior. She told me how we need to uplift one another as the 12 disciples did. She makes my soul so happy. Here's to being a warrior!!
Monday, April 4, 2016
Light Driven
This morning, I prayed to God. I've been doing that more often lately. I started sharing my concerns, worries, insecurities, and so forth with God slowly, and then--all at once. It was just flowing out from me. I've always been weird about praying outwardly, but when it's just me and God--it happens so effortlessly.
I told God how I haven't felt like myself lately. I told God how I felt like I was settling in my endeavors and how I needed to take that "next step" to put forth more effort and achieve my goals and reams. I told God that I was scared and worried about my health, but know I need to trust in Him. Then, I spoke to the devil. I told the devil to leave me be. I told the devil that I am claiming ownership over this life and this body that my God has given me. I told the devil to stop.
And quite frankly, I felt silly. I've never considered myself very spiritual. But nothing will cause you to turn to God like being in "trouble." I'm not in trouble, exactly. Something is just off. I can't pinpoint it, but I feel like I haven't completely been myself these past few months. I'm following up on some medical appointments to find out what's going on with my physically. In the meantime, my spiritual and mental well-being need some serious TLC.
Back to my prayer. As I was praying earlier this morning, I noted several people that just simply had a "light" about them. This aura that just exudes happiness. Well, it's not exactly happiness. It's more of a reassurance in themselves. A sense of security and confidence in their well-being. I realized I wanted that. I needed that. So, that's when I realize that I needed to make some changes. I needed to take that "next step" and stop being so complacent with my day-to-day routines. So, that's how this blog came about. A way to chronicle and gather my experiences and efforts to "find the light."
Through my prayer this morning, I realized something crucial: I can only get out of something what I put into it. I know, I know. You're probably thinking one or a combination of the following: that's so cliche', well duh, I've heard that a million times, or you're just now realizing that? And I'm with you. I was thinking all of the same during my prayer. I've heard the concept of that phrase more times than I can count, but sometimes it takes an exact moment, time, situation to fully make you comprehend and want to apply that phrase.
Like I said, I've not been myself lately. I was reflecting on how I've been so ornery and full of complaints around my sweet and patient boyfriend lately. Last night I was on the phone with him and I made some pitiful comment in regards to him making me happy and how I'd been so miserable lately. And he said the simplest, yet truest thing: Only you can do that. And he is right. I've known this before, but for some reason, him saying it really hit my core. He can't make me happy. Only I can. And how I do that is trusting and seeking God. While here on Earth, I have so many people that I can turn to--my parents, William, Jessica, Leonora, and the list goes on. But I know when it comes down to it, I have to look to God and find that strength, love, self-worth, and security within him in order for my mind, body, and soul to achieve that "light."
It's challenging growing up. I have another blog that dips into a little of that, but unfortunately, I was not so successful in keeping up with it. I'm hoping for more success with this one. There's a lot of atrocities and grief permeating our society and as a young woman, I'm having a hard time processing it all as I become older. One thing for sure, the more I see and don't understand, the more I'm convinced that there has to be a God. We aren't in this world just for kicks and giggles and fun. But for a purpose. God's purpose. So, here is the start of my journey to find that light. I realized through this prayer that I have several goals I want to achieve and vices that I need to let go of.
Goals are as follows:
1) Build my skill-set in sign language interpreting
2) Find a small group
3) Study the Bible more
4) Read more
5) Continue exercising
6) Blog about my goals in order to achieve them
7) Pray more
Vices are as follows:
1) Laziness/sloth
2) Complacency
3) Worry
4) Anxiety
5) Idle pleasure
When I was talking to my sweet friend Amanda, she gave me such encouraging and uplifting advice. She told me to pray to God to handle it and tell the devil to leave me be. She also encouraged me to read Matthew 6. With that wisdom, I want to end my first entry with several well-known and encouraging verses from this chapter.
* This, then, is how you should pray:
I told God how I haven't felt like myself lately. I told God how I felt like I was settling in my endeavors and how I needed to take that "next step" to put forth more effort and achieve my goals and reams. I told God that I was scared and worried about my health, but know I need to trust in Him. Then, I spoke to the devil. I told the devil to leave me be. I told the devil that I am claiming ownership over this life and this body that my God has given me. I told the devil to stop.
And quite frankly, I felt silly. I've never considered myself very spiritual. But nothing will cause you to turn to God like being in "trouble." I'm not in trouble, exactly. Something is just off. I can't pinpoint it, but I feel like I haven't completely been myself these past few months. I'm following up on some medical appointments to find out what's going on with my physically. In the meantime, my spiritual and mental well-being need some serious TLC.
Back to my prayer. As I was praying earlier this morning, I noted several people that just simply had a "light" about them. This aura that just exudes happiness. Well, it's not exactly happiness. It's more of a reassurance in themselves. A sense of security and confidence in their well-being. I realized I wanted that. I needed that. So, that's when I realize that I needed to make some changes. I needed to take that "next step" and stop being so complacent with my day-to-day routines. So, that's how this blog came about. A way to chronicle and gather my experiences and efforts to "find the light."
Through my prayer this morning, I realized something crucial: I can only get out of something what I put into it. I know, I know. You're probably thinking one or a combination of the following: that's so cliche', well duh, I've heard that a million times, or you're just now realizing that? And I'm with you. I was thinking all of the same during my prayer. I've heard the concept of that phrase more times than I can count, but sometimes it takes an exact moment, time, situation to fully make you comprehend and want to apply that phrase.
Like I said, I've not been myself lately. I was reflecting on how I've been so ornery and full of complaints around my sweet and patient boyfriend lately. Last night I was on the phone with him and I made some pitiful comment in regards to him making me happy and how I'd been so miserable lately. And he said the simplest, yet truest thing: Only you can do that. And he is right. I've known this before, but for some reason, him saying it really hit my core. He can't make me happy. Only I can. And how I do that is trusting and seeking God. While here on Earth, I have so many people that I can turn to--my parents, William, Jessica, Leonora, and the list goes on. But I know when it comes down to it, I have to look to God and find that strength, love, self-worth, and security within him in order for my mind, body, and soul to achieve that "light."
It's challenging growing up. I have another blog that dips into a little of that, but unfortunately, I was not so successful in keeping up with it. I'm hoping for more success with this one. There's a lot of atrocities and grief permeating our society and as a young woman, I'm having a hard time processing it all as I become older. One thing for sure, the more I see and don't understand, the more I'm convinced that there has to be a God. We aren't in this world just for kicks and giggles and fun. But for a purpose. God's purpose. So, here is the start of my journey to find that light. I realized through this prayer that I have several goals I want to achieve and vices that I need to let go of.
Goals are as follows:
1) Build my skill-set in sign language interpreting
2) Find a small group
3) Study the Bible more
4) Read more
5) Continue exercising
6) Blog about my goals in order to achieve them
7) Pray more
Vices are as follows:
1) Laziness/sloth
2) Complacency
3) Worry
4) Anxiety
5) Idle pleasure
When I was talking to my sweet friend Amanda, she gave me such encouraging and uplifting advice. She told me to pray to God to handle it and tell the devil to leave me be. She also encouraged me to read Matthew 6. With that wisdom, I want to end my first entry with several well-known and encouraging verses from this chapter.
* This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
Matthew 6:9-13
*34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34
~ShaCarol
**SPARK of the Days: SPARK of the Days are little moments I've captured in my day that show pieces of "the light" that I'm pursuing. SPARK stands for Simple, Pure Auras, Radiating, Kindness.
Today's SPARK: While working with my 4th grader, I noticed she was incredibly withdrawn and sullen. Normally, I probably would've waved it off and kept on with my plans. However, something stirred in me that allowed me to show her grace and compassion. Instead of our typical "work," we went to the library and I read a story aloud. While she was not ready to open up to me, I was relieved to find out she opened up to her teacher and guidance counselor as to why she was upset. Her grandma had fussed at her about her science project and she was upset. While my human nature wishes she would've been able to open up to me and share this information, I am still glad that I was able to show her my simple, pure, aura radiating kindness that she needed.
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
Matthew 6:9-13
*34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34
~ShaCarol
**SPARK of the Days: SPARK of the Days are little moments I've captured in my day that show pieces of "the light" that I'm pursuing. SPARK stands for Simple, Pure Auras, Radiating, Kindness.
Today's SPARK: While working with my 4th grader, I noticed she was incredibly withdrawn and sullen. Normally, I probably would've waved it off and kept on with my plans. However, something stirred in me that allowed me to show her grace and compassion. Instead of our typical "work," we went to the library and I read a story aloud. While she was not ready to open up to me, I was relieved to find out she opened up to her teacher and guidance counselor as to why she was upset. Her grandma had fussed at her about her science project and she was upset. While my human nature wishes she would've been able to open up to me and share this information, I am still glad that I was able to show her my simple, pure, aura radiating kindness that she needed.
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